Inspiring Creative Thinking and Franchise Ownership, One Robot at a Time
Spend a few minutes in any of Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s programs and you’ll understand why this company has captured widespread attention in the children’s education and enrichment sectors. You’ll also be instantly sorry these amazing experiences weren’t available when you were a kid!
Founded by mechanical engineer Jenny Young in 2011, Brooklyn Robot Foundry revolutionized STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) with its dynamic approach to teaching kids through unique hands-on robotics projects. Jenny and her team of designers have built a curriculum that appeals to kids of all ages, engaging them with programs that can take place almost anytime and anywhere!
Franchisees deliver the high-quality, screen-free, enrichment classes at schools, organizations, camps, and other facilities, engaging students, fostering creativity and innovation.
Standing Out from the Crowd
Young founded Brooklyn Robot Foundry to provide an alternative to the traditional, standardized test-heavy methods dominating education. The Foundry’s classes are open-ended, project-based curricula where children of all ages can bring robots to life by learning fundamental engineering principles in a playful, engaging environment.
All Brooklyn Robot Foundry teachers are equipped with lesson plans and instructional materials so they are properly prepared to teach each class. The students get to build a new robot every class and take it home with them for additional learning and fun. This unique aspect is what thrills children most. “These kids are spending an hour or more building their robot – the last thing they want to do is part with it! That’s something we’ve heard a lot when people tell us about other programs – the kids don’t get to keep what they made and it’s really disappointing. And their kids don’t want to go back. We love the fact that our students can become completely immersed in their project, that they can custom it to make it their own and then they can take it with them and continue to modify and play with it at home.” explained Young.
What truly sets the Foundry’s programs apart from others is the sheer depth of their curriculum. Young explained boredom is never a problem with the Foundry, “We currently have over 650 projects in our curriculum. That means that a student could start building with us in pre-school and continue with weekly classes through middle school without ever repeating a robot!”
That number is even more impressive when you consider that each robot goes through thorough testing before being incorporated into the curriculum. Most designs do not make it, whether because of complexity, cost, sourcing issues, or simply because they simply aren’t deemed fun enough!
Accessible and Impactful
Much of the success of Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s program lies in its blend of engineering concepts and creativity. This approach helps to make STEAM learning more accessible and enjoyable for every child. Students are encouraged to transform each robot project into something that reflects their own interests. This flexibility appeals to children of all interests and inspires them to connect with science and engineering in their own way.
The Foundry’s programs also cater to various learning styles and needs, including children with neurodiversity. The program’s adaptability also allows instructors to adjust the experience for students who may benefit from additional guidance or alternative learning methods.
The learning extends well beyond traditional STEAM programs, as children benefit from the social-emotional aspects of the engineering mindset. Students are taught to embrace failure as part of the learning experience. They work with the instructors to work through challenges, building self-confidence in the process. The Foundry’s teachers also foster creativity, encouraging self-expression in a supportive environment.
Accessibility is also a key factor of the Foundry’s mobile model. Franchise owners do not have a traditional brick-and-mortar location. Instead, the Foundry brings classes directly to the children in schools, community centers, and organizations, ensuring that transportation isn’t a barrier to access. By providing high-quality, hands-on STEAM education where children are already located, Brooklyn Robot Foundry empowers kids across all backgrounds to explore, invent, and engage with engineering. This also allows franchise owners to grow exponentially instead of being limited to the capacity of a singular location.
A Vision for Growth and Expansion
Brooklyn Robot Foundry plans to expand its reach significantly in the coming years. Young explained the company’s plans for expansion, “We initially started out very slowly, with just a few franchisees, because we really wanted to test and improve on our systems before taking on too many territories. Then we took on the next bunch, further improving our systems. Now we’re ready for more significant growth, and to grow our footprint far further from our home base in Brooklyn.”
Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s franchise model has become an attractive option for entrepreneurs interested in the booming field of children’s educational franchises, particularly those focused on STEAM learning. Franchisees who join not only tap into a growing demand for extracurricular STEAM activities but also benefit from the Foundry’s established brand and reputation. The Foundry’s emphasis on making learning fun and inclusive resonates with parents, schools, and community centers. Moreover, Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s approach aligns with the modern priority of fostering a lifetime love for learning.
Built for Franchise Success
Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s franchise model addresses a key barrier for many prospective franchisees: high startup costs. By operating as a mobile program that partners with schools, libraries, and community centers instead of requiring a dedicated storefront, Brooklyn Robot Foundry franchisees save significantly on overhead costs, such as real estate and utilities.
In addition to helping to get things going easily, Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s mobile model is beneficial for continuous growth as well. Scalability is always a crucial topic in business, and for good reason. It represents a company’s potential to grow effectively, enter new markets, and expand its offerings cost-effectively. As a mobile model, Brooklyn Robot Foundry is inherently scalable. Without real estate constraints, franchise owners are able to spread and increase programming to meet demand.
Sourcing is something the Foundry’s franchisees don’t worry about, as that is all handled by the corporate team. That’s a really big deal when you realize that each robot consists of a different configuration of parts and materials, meaning the Foundry’s production department must maintain an inventory of close to 1000 different parts at any given time. The production team then assembles individual kits of each robot, which are sent to the franchisees on a weekly basis. “We’re currently producing over 1200 robot kits per week for our franchise and corporate locations. And we expect that to double over the next 6 months”, reported Young. And with Young’s engineering background including in manufacturing, the corporate team is armed with all it needs to be able to seamlessly scale kit production.
Complete Circuit
In the lucrative children’s enrichment market, Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s uniqueness, affordability, and flexibility make it an especially appealing choice. With its innovative mobile model and a comprehensive curriculum tested and honed over the years, the Foundry provides franchisees with an easy-to-follow but impactful way to bring meaningful learning experiences to their communities. The ongoing training, resources, and support allow franchisees to focus on building relationships within their communities and delivering exceptional classes.
By focusing on inclusivity and affordability, Brooklyn Robot Foundry offers not just a product but a transformative experience. Brooklyn Robot Foundry has already become a household name among parents in New York City and beyond, and with its franchise expansion, it is positioned to become a leader in STEAM education on a national scale. Whether in a school gymnasium, a community center, or a local library, the Foundry continues to inspire curiosity, foster creativity, and empower children and adults alike to see the possibilities in the world around them. This commitment to accessible, engaging STEAM education makes Brooklyn Robot Foundry a truly exciting opportunity for potential franchisees and a valuable resource for young learners.